“I’m so unsubscribing cause you’re inane”

DWeatherly writes: “OK, that’s it Scoble, I’m unsubscribed.”

When I talk with new bloggers they generally complain about not having readers, or not having commenters. I tell them “enjoy those days where you can write an inane post without being abused.”

But, here’s the thing DWeatherly just exposed about himself.

1) He doesn’t use a good RSS reader. I read more than 1,000 posts every day and if I hit an inane post I just hit “J.” Yeah, maybe 10 seconds of my day are gone (sometimes inane posts have grabbing headlines, or a good first couple of paragraphs and “fool” me into reading more) but I generally don’t mind too much cause even an inane post sometimes teaches me something.

2) He has expectations of a private blog that are way out of wack. A private blog WILL BE INANE once in a while if it’s written by a single human being. If you expect any single human being to NOT be inane once in a while, you’ll just get pre-processed, pre-edited stuff and won’t see anything real. Translation: you won’t see any posts done at 2 a.m. when we’re just having some geeky fun and trying to point out the general inanity of life.

3) He missed the whole point of the post, which was to point out that Twitter +is+ inane. But that’s what makes it fun. I posted at 2 a.m. and both of my employees wrote back to say the Twitter equivilent of “hi.” And it’s a world-wide-inanity experiment. Rachel Clarke is somewhere else in the world (she usually lives in UK, but I think she’s in New York).

Anyway, my point of this inane post is to tell my readers that if you don’t like inane posts, please don’t read me. Unsubscribe right now and head over to TechMeme, where every post has been linked to by some other smarter, better looking, blogger (or, probably five or 10 of them).

Me? This is my personal blog and, sorry, I’m inane. Stupid. Lame. Boring. Headache inducing. A lot of the time. If you do stick around, just hit “J” in Bloglines or Google Reader and we’ll all get through those parts together.

Oh, and DWeatherly also demonstrated he didn’t watch my video interview that I posted yesterday. That was 45 minutes of an Austrian developer who, definitely, is NOT inane.

Or, he missed where I posted about Jott.com. That service helps you use your cell phone to not be inane (or, at least, not to forget stuff before you can get off the freeway and write it down). But, no, we don’t have DWeatherly here anymore cause he couldn’t put up with an inane four posts about Twitter.

One last thought. Have you ever noticed that the most abusive commenters don’t have blogs of their own? I sure wish these readers who think they know how to do this so well would do a blog of their own so we could all learn from their greatness.

And that’s my inane thoughts today from Hiway 5 in Seattle. David Geller, a guy who is NOT inane, is driving. We’re going to have breakfast with Buzz Bruggeman and Alvey Ray Smith, co-founder of Pixar. How do you know he’s NOT inane? Cause he’s won two Oscars and built technology that revolutionized the movie business. UPDATE: Alvey couldn’t make it, but breakfast wasn’t inane anyway. Onto Amazon.

73 thoughts on ““I’m so unsubscribing cause you’re inane”

  1. I never understood why people complain about the content of blogs. Is someone forcing them to read your blog? Are they paying you to write interesting stuff all the time? Like you said hit J and move on.

    Stay the course it shows you are human.

    Like

  2. I never understood why people complain about the content of blogs. Is someone forcing them to read your blog? Are they paying you to write interesting stuff all the time? Like you said hit J and move on.

    Stay the course it shows you are human.

    Like

  3. Scoble, I’m taking a vacation from you blog and maybe you should too. I’m not sure what has happened to you lately but you need to chill out and read you book again.

    Like

  4. Scoble, I’m taking a vacation from you blog and maybe you should too. I’m not sure what has happened to you lately but you need to chill out and read you book again.

    Like

  5. As a newer blogger here are some notes: 1) Don’t blog angry. 2) Every comment is just an opinion. 3) People are uninhibited on line and saying things they’d never say to your face. 4) The people who compain are sometimes the most vocal. 5) If a comment annoys me, I usually let it sit a while and then read it later – usually I’ve read too much into it. 6) If someone is really mad – they might have an unfulfilled need that has nothing to do with my blog.

    Lastly, I still think any comment no matter how angry or annoyed still means whatever you wrote inspired them to comment which is a good thing. Ultimately, the comments are a public check and balance. If I write something that people think sucks then I’m totally open to readers to call me on it and say so. The end result is I get better as a blogger. Because ultimately the blogging thing is a conversation.

    And I’d prefer annoyed comments to none, because at least it’s instant feedback about what I’m doing.

    Like

  6. As a newer blogger here are some notes: 1) Don’t blog angry. 2) Every comment is just an opinion. 3) People are uninhibited on line and saying things they’d never say to your face. 4) The people who compain are sometimes the most vocal. 5) If a comment annoys me, I usually let it sit a while and then read it later – usually I’ve read too much into it. 6) If someone is really mad – they might have an unfulfilled need that has nothing to do with my blog.

    Lastly, I still think any comment no matter how angry or annoyed still means whatever you wrote inspired them to comment which is a good thing. Ultimately, the comments are a public check and balance. If I write something that people think sucks then I’m totally open to readers to call me on it and say so. The end result is I get better as a blogger. Because ultimately the blogging thing is a conversation.

    And I’d prefer annoyed comments to none, because at least it’s instant feedback about what I’m doing.

    Like

  7. DWeatherly: look at my post about my schedule again. Four years ago I wasn’t working my ass off like that from early morning to late at night.

    Writing interesting posts takes time. Guy Kawasaki tells me that his often take six hours to write.

    Like

  8. DWeatherly: look at my post about my schedule again. Four years ago I wasn’t working my ass off like that from early morning to late at night.

    Writing interesting posts takes time. Guy Kawasaki tells me that his often take six hours to write.

    Like

  9. You gotta have a voice, so why not be wheels-off every now and then. Inane is fresh.

    BTW – I’m using netvibes and have no idea what you’re talking about with the J. What’s that feature?

    Like

  10. You gotta have a voice, so why not be wheels-off every now and then. Inane is fresh.

    BTW – I’m using netvibes and have no idea what you’re talking about with the J. What’s that feature?

    Like

  11. Ha! Cheers, Robert. I actually thought of you last night (no, no, not that way you perv).

    The hard drive on my Powerbook gave out and I sat on the phone for one hour with an Apple tech support woman, who, I’m sorry, but she was a FUCKING IDIOT. I *almost* considered live-blogging my experience while I was on the phone, but also remembered your post about Apple support issues with your son. Just to give you an idea, when I gave her my address and said I lived on 84th Street, she said “84th… is that spelled 84th?” – picture exclamation and question marks steaming from my head. Then when I said that my Mac was flashing the Finder icon… she asked, what do you mean finder? Find what? “no, the Finder icon, you know, the Finder on Apple” – her response? I’m going to have to put you on hold for 7-8 minutes to research that. !!!!!

    I guess that’s my “inane” comment for you, Robert 🙂

    Like

  12. Ha! Cheers, Robert. I actually thought of you last night (no, no, not that way you perv).

    The hard drive on my Powerbook gave out and I sat on the phone for one hour with an Apple tech support woman, who, I’m sorry, but she was a FUCKING IDIOT. I *almost* considered live-blogging my experience while I was on the phone, but also remembered your post about Apple support issues with your son. Just to give you an idea, when I gave her my address and said I lived on 84th Street, she said “84th… is that spelled 84th?” – picture exclamation and question marks steaming from my head. Then when I said that my Mac was flashing the Finder icon… she asked, what do you mean finder? Find what? “no, the Finder icon, you know, the Finder on Apple” – her response? I’m going to have to put you on hold for 7-8 minutes to research that. !!!!!

    I guess that’s my “inane” comment for you, Robert 🙂

    Like

  13. well, on the bright side, you’re now listed on the front page of any search for ‘inane’

    and when the day comes, just tell apple — when it comes to iNane, think scoble-y

    cheers,

    Heywood
    bigbignews.net

    Like

  14. well, on the bright side, you’re now listed on the front page of any search for ‘inane’

    and when the day comes, just tell apple — when it comes to iNane, think scoble-y

    cheers,

    Heywood
    bigbignews.net

    Like

  15. I’ll never understand why someone would complain about the content of a personal blog; if this was a business blog, it would be different. But the idea behind a *personal* blog to express yourself; regardless of mood, or popularity of an opinion, or any other factor.

    It’s that concept, a place where you are free to say what you like, how you like is one of the major forces that made blogging as popular as it is. If someone wants articles that look like they were pulled from a magazine, then there are plenty of commercial ‘blogs’ that will provide it.

    I read this because it makes for an interesting incite into another world, another persons life. That’s what it’s all about.

    Like

  16. I’ll never understand why someone would complain about the content of a personal blog; if this was a business blog, it would be different. But the idea behind a *personal* blog to express yourself; regardless of mood, or popularity of an opinion, or any other factor.

    It’s that concept, a place where you are free to say what you like, how you like is one of the major forces that made blogging as popular as it is. If someone wants articles that look like they were pulled from a magazine, then there are plenty of commercial ‘blogs’ that will provide it.

    I read this because it makes for an interesting incite into another world, another persons life. That’s what it’s all about.

    Like

  17. Kawasaki takes 6 hours to write a post? No wonder I haven’t visited that site in 6 months. I should probably go there and read his quality posts instead of spending time on your inane ones.

    Like

  18. Kawasaki takes 6 hours to write a post? No wonder I haven’t visited that site in 6 months. I should probably go there and read his quality posts instead of spending time on your inane ones.

    Like

  19. Gawd, Robert, a personal blog that is read by so many tends to be in a class of its own : warts and all. The problem most bloggers have is to actually find someone to comment on what they write so it’s not like dropping output into a bottomless well.
    If, like me, you zip around the web quipping hither and yon, keeping track of conversations is a chore. At least WordPress and CoComment give me a chance to get into back and forth but it’s not the same as having a set locale with visitors. Political comment sites are a bit of the same shortfall : you can get something going but it’s usually hit-and-miss or await developments.
    But inane ( you and me both ) ? Beats boring. Remember the quips about committees – the results lack distinct flavour.
    And not reading a blog ? I can’t get my head through the insignificance of bothering to make that sort of announcement ( This would not be the face of one who cared ).

    Like

  20. Gawd, Robert, a personal blog that is read by so many tends to be in a class of its own : warts and all. The problem most bloggers have is to actually find someone to comment on what they write so it’s not like dropping output into a bottomless well.
    If, like me, you zip around the web quipping hither and yon, keeping track of conversations is a chore. At least WordPress and CoComment give me a chance to get into back and forth but it’s not the same as having a set locale with visitors. Political comment sites are a bit of the same shortfall : you can get something going but it’s usually hit-and-miss or await developments.
    But inane ( you and me both ) ? Beats boring. Remember the quips about committees – the results lack distinct flavour.
    And not reading a blog ? I can’t get my head through the insignificance of bothering to make that sort of announcement ( This would not be the face of one who cared ).

    Like

  21. I can see both sides of the argument. With so much inane crap in this world, why spend any more time on it than you need to? There are many blogs in the sea.

    But, sometimes it is annoying to take the effort to pick the good content of of the bad on someone’s blog. It’s not so much “you’re inane and I am unsubscribing” as “you post decent material sometimes, but the signal to noise ratio is off”. If BoingBoing had comments, people would be posting the same things after every subway anagram. If all you posted was livejournal worthy prose about what you ate for lunch, no one would complain about you being inane, simple because no one would have subscribed in the first place. Of all the things to fear from an audience, the more frightening is silence. It means the auditorium is empty.

    Like

  22. I can see both sides of the argument. With so much inane crap in this world, why spend any more time on it than you need to? There are many blogs in the sea.

    But, sometimes it is annoying to take the effort to pick the good content of of the bad on someone’s blog. It’s not so much “you’re inane and I am unsubscribing” as “you post decent material sometimes, but the signal to noise ratio is off”. If BoingBoing had comments, people would be posting the same things after every subway anagram. If all you posted was livejournal worthy prose about what you ate for lunch, no one would complain about you being inane, simple because no one would have subscribed in the first place. Of all the things to fear from an audience, the more frightening is silence. It means the auditorium is empty.

    Like

  23. i do love bloggers blogging about blogging. never gets old. someone should write an entire book about that (oops).

    ps: i contribute to two blogs in the technorati 100 (meaningless stat) and yes, commenters are generally dopes. that’s why you shouldn’t devote entire idiotic, emotional blog posts to their idiotic, emotional comments.

    Like

  24. i do love bloggers blogging about blogging. never gets old. someone should write an entire book about that (oops).

    ps: i contribute to two blogs in the technorati 100 (meaningless stat) and yes, commenters are generally dopes. that’s why you shouldn’t devote entire idiotic, emotional blog posts to their idiotic, emotional comments.

    Like

  25. Hey Robert,

    Stop messing with this guy. He is just baiting you. I actually loved the twitter post. And showing that you are human every once in a while is good.

    If you want to get a good laugh out of this try googling DWeatherly .

    You get to this site

    http://www.fhkfc.org/

    after going through this forum

    http://forums.christianwebhost.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2135&sid=fdda5ad0fe6029906e64456552fbe04a

    Robert!?! What have you done to make pastors Jesse and Rose Zepeda so angry with you?

    (Joke!)

    Like

  26. Hey Robert,

    Stop messing with this guy. He is just baiting you. I actually loved the twitter post. And showing that you are human every once in a while is good.

    If you want to get a good laugh out of this try googling DWeatherly .

    You get to this site

    http://www.fhkfc.org/

    after going through this forum

    http://forums.christianwebhost.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2135&sid=fdda5ad0fe6029906e64456552fbe04a

    Robert!?! What have you done to make pastors Jesse and Rose Zepeda so angry with you?

    (Joke!)

    Like

  27. Robert: Maybe! 🙂

    Met: he hasn’t written that much lately. Probably cause he’s a busy guy and if his bar is six hours a post, it’s hard to find that time to craft such an entry.

    Like

  28. Robert: Maybe! 🙂

    Met: he hasn’t written that much lately. Probably cause he’s a busy guy and if his bar is six hours a post, it’s hard to find that time to craft such an entry.

    Like

  29. Nice link bait, so I’ll comment. 🙂

    What are some of the best RSS readers other than Google’s? I need to redo my stuff again soon, so alert functions will be a focus.

    Like

  30. Nice link bait, so I’ll comment. 🙂

    What are some of the best RSS readers other than Google’s? I need to redo my stuff again soon, so alert functions will be a focus.

    Like

  31. Robert, I think the weird bit was Chris replying from the same house..the world wide bit is far more normal. And yes, I have moved to New York.

    Like

  32. Robert, I think the weird bit was Chris replying from the same house..the world wide bit is far more normal. And yes, I have moved to New York.

    Like

  33. Ok that’s it Scoble. I’m offisially subscribing to this blog. I might print it out on huge posters and decorate downtown Oslo (thats norway, europe) with it so everyone can see. 😉

    Like

  34. Ok that’s it Scoble. I’m offisially subscribing to this blog. I might print it out on huge posters and decorate downtown Oslo (thats norway, europe) with it so everyone can see. 😉

    Like

  35. I’m with you all except for this:

    “One last thought. Have you ever noticed that the most abusive commenters don’t have blogs of their own? I sure wish these readers who think they know how to do this so well would do a blog of their own so we could all learn from their greatness.”

    That’s like people that say that those of us who never played football can never complain about the players or coaches in the NFL. You can no what you don’t like without ever needing to know how it should really be done.

    Keep posting what you feel like writing. I have the magic J key when it doesn’t strike my fancy.

    Like

  36. I’m with you all except for this:

    “One last thought. Have you ever noticed that the most abusive commenters don’t have blogs of their own? I sure wish these readers who think they know how to do this so well would do a blog of their own so we could all learn from their greatness.”

    That’s like people that say that those of us who never played football can never complain about the players or coaches in the NFL. You can no what you don’t like without ever needing to know how it should really be done.

    Keep posting what you feel like writing. I have the magic J key when it doesn’t strike my fancy.

    Like

  37. Robert, first, keep up the great work. Your blog has your voice…and just what we don’t need is corp-speak drivel and over-processed, Cheez-Whiz blogging. I like the real…the (sometimes, but for good reason) inane.

    It is nuts that the lurkers tend to not have their own place to write but plenty of time to rain down on the rainmakers. I’m putting the finishing touches on Troll Patrol right now…there’s so much fertile ground out there with trolls. I have a pretty decent collection of material just from my personal blog, and there isn’t a day that goes by when more and more little trolls climb out from under their bridges and make neg comments like that. I think shining the light on them like you’ve done here works wonders. Trolls don’t like the light.

    Like

  38. Robert, first, keep up the great work. Your blog has your voice…and just what we don’t need is corp-speak drivel and over-processed, Cheez-Whiz blogging. I like the real…the (sometimes, but for good reason) inane.

    It is nuts that the lurkers tend to not have their own place to write but plenty of time to rain down on the rainmakers. I’m putting the finishing touches on Troll Patrol right now…there’s so much fertile ground out there with trolls. I have a pretty decent collection of material just from my personal blog, and there isn’t a day that goes by when more and more little trolls climb out from under their bridges and make neg comments like that. I think shining the light on them like you’ve done here works wonders. Trolls don’t like the light.

    Like

  39. Hmmm, just hit delete, oops, j it only takes 10 seconds out of your day?

    Dude, are things going so bad you’re considering the spam business – cause it sure sounds like you’re practicing for it.

    Like

  40. Hmmm, just hit delete, oops, j it only takes 10 seconds out of your day?

    Dude, are things going so bad you’re considering the spam business – cause it sure sounds like you’re practicing for it.

    Like

  41. I’ll second all the positive comments. As a person who used to teach college writing back in the day, I always
    banged my head against the wall to get the doublespeak and cliches out of people’s prose and get them to speak in their own voices. Robert speaks in his own voice, for better or for worse, heheh, and I value that. I am on Twitter, even though I’m a little old lady with a Ph D, and I find it hilarious to find out that Scoble and Pirillo are sleeping together in the same house and twittering. It’s like a slumber party, and life should have more of those. I bet Buzz Bruggeman feels the same way.

    Like

  42. I’ll second all the positive comments. As a person who used to teach college writing back in the day, I always
    banged my head against the wall to get the doublespeak and cliches out of people’s prose and get them to speak in their own voices. Robert speaks in his own voice, for better or for worse, heheh, and I value that. I am on Twitter, even though I’m a little old lady with a Ph D, and I find it hilarious to find out that Scoble and Pirillo are sleeping together in the same house and twittering. It’s like a slumber party, and life should have more of those. I bet Buzz Bruggeman feels the same way.

    Like

  43. Pingback: Geek And Poke
  44. Mr. Scoble I’m starting to get concerned. I think all the pressure of the past month is starting to catch up with you. This post is a cry for help.

    Before we read about you shaving your head and getting tattoos. I suggest you see a psychiatrist soon.

    Like

  45. Mr. Scoble I’m starting to get concerned. I think all the pressure of the past month is starting to catch up with you. This post is a cry for help.

    Before we read about you shaving your head and getting tattoos. I suggest you see a psychiatrist soon.

    Like

  46. This has to be my absolute favorite Scoogle post ever!!! My God!!!! I understand the **whole** thing for once. It’s all psychology, which is my kind of technology; the inane, yes, inane antics of the human animal!

    “My coconut.”

    “No, your coconut bad. Me throw your coconut away!”

    “You stupid. I show you how you stupid. I show the other cave men, too! Now look here, me have ‘nother, bigger coconut! And I carved your stupid face on it.”

    😉

    Like

  47. This has to be my absolute favorite Scoogle post ever!!! My God!!!! I understand the **whole** thing for once. It’s all psychology, which is my kind of technology; the inane, yes, inane antics of the human animal!

    “My coconut.”

    “No, your coconut bad. Me throw your coconut away!”

    “You stupid. I show you how you stupid. I show the other cave men, too! Now look here, me have ‘nother, bigger coconut! And I carved your stupid face on it.”

    😉

    Like

  48. Heather — that’s the best comment I’ve read all morning!

    Mr. Scoble — As of today, I’ve been blogging in some way or form for the last seven years… And to be honest, well over 50% of my posts have been inane. And silly. And fluffy things that most people would just gloss over. And I really don’t care. It’s too much pressure to post about things other people could want to care about on a personal blog. I’m glad you have fun with your silly inane posts. It makes you a pleasure to read. It makes me remember you’re just another human too. 🙂

    Like

  49. Heather — that’s the best comment I’ve read all morning!

    Mr. Scoble — As of today, I’ve been blogging in some way or form for the last seven years… And to be honest, well over 50% of my posts have been inane. And silly. And fluffy things that most people would just gloss over. And I really don’t care. It’s too much pressure to post about things other people could want to care about on a personal blog. I’m glad you have fun with your silly inane posts. It makes you a pleasure to read. It makes me remember you’re just another human too. 🙂

    Like

  50. Robert, the idea that this is just your “personal” blog is the silliest attempt at misdirection I’ve ever seen. This site IS your business. Your entire business model is “I get attention”.

    This blog is how you get attention. Being inane, no fact-checking/research, and flame-baiting is HOW you get attention, but the idea that this site is just a “little place for me to talk to a few people” is almost insulting in its blatant manipulation of the truth.

    You’re not that smooth dude. Really.

    Like

  51. Robert, the idea that this is just your “personal” blog is the silliest attempt at misdirection I’ve ever seen. This site IS your business. Your entire business model is “I get attention”.

    This blog is how you get attention. Being inane, no fact-checking/research, and flame-baiting is HOW you get attention, but the idea that this site is just a “little place for me to talk to a few people” is almost insulting in its blatant manipulation of the truth.

    You’re not that smooth dude. Really.

    Like

  52. I like Robert because a lot of his success is because he doesn’t censor or edit. It’s raw and pure. Would that we all got our livelihood from being just exactly who we are. That is my goal in my life.

    It’s just plain good ol’ fun to stir up obvious hornets’ nests. Then you get to see who sees the obvious and predicatable human response and you get to see the people who are still so immersed in being reactive pawns of life rather than conscious beings of choice. It is a good perspective to have.

    I like to stir up hornets’ nests, too. It’s a heady feeling. The challenge is using it as an opportunity to learn more about ourselves as a species. We get to see yet again how life runs us instead of us standing in our rightful place as cause in our lives.

    Righteous anger/irritation feels better than guilt. Neither are taking responsibility. Both are addictions to victim and helplessness.

    What was I talking about? Think I tranced out there again. Damn you, Ramtha! Shit! 😉

    Like

  53. I like Robert because a lot of his success is because he doesn’t censor or edit. It’s raw and pure. Would that we all got our livelihood from being just exactly who we are. That is my goal in my life.

    It’s just plain good ol’ fun to stir up obvious hornets’ nests. Then you get to see who sees the obvious and predicatable human response and you get to see the people who are still so immersed in being reactive pawns of life rather than conscious beings of choice. It is a good perspective to have.

    I like to stir up hornets’ nests, too. It’s a heady feeling. The challenge is using it as an opportunity to learn more about ourselves as a species. We get to see yet again how life runs us instead of us standing in our rightful place as cause in our lives.

    Righteous anger/irritation feels better than guilt. Neither are taking responsibility. Both are addictions to victim and helplessness.

    What was I talking about? Think I tranced out there again. Damn you, Ramtha! Shit! 😉

    Like

  54. I made this and dedicated it to Scoble:
    http://www.autotwit.com/

    Key Benefits:

    1. Make you wealthy
    2. Improve your appearance
    3. Help you to be more well-liked by your family or friends
    4. Make you live longer
    5. Attract members of the opposite sex
    6. Update Twitter automatically

    Yes, AutoTwit lets you schedule updates for Twitter … in case you’re travelling, or too busy to update yourself.

    Built using the Twitter API, Rails, and Love on Sunday afternoon. Don’t you just love Web 2.0?

    Slightly tongue-in-cheek, but fun none the less.

    Like

  55. I made this and dedicated it to Scoble:
    http://www.autotwit.com/

    Key Benefits:

    1. Make you wealthy
    2. Improve your appearance
    3. Help you to be more well-liked by your family or friends
    4. Make you live longer
    5. Attract members of the opposite sex
    6. Update Twitter automatically

    Yes, AutoTwit lets you schedule updates for Twitter … in case you’re travelling, or too busy to update yourself.

    Built using the Twitter API, Rails, and Love on Sunday afternoon. Don’t you just love Web 2.0?

    Slightly tongue-in-cheek, but fun none the less.

    Like

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